Plasma Membrane Protein Ubiquitylation and Degradation as Determinants of Positional Growth in Plants

• Published in: Journal of integrative plant biology 2013-09, Vol.55 (9), p.809-823
• Main Authors: Korbei, Barbara, Luschnig, Christian
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Arabidopsis; auxin; Cell Membrane - metabolism; Endocytosis; Membrane Proteins - metabolism; PIN protein; Plant Development; protein degradation; Proteolysis; ubiquitin; Ubiquitination; 泛素化; 蛋白质修饰; 蛋白质功能; 蛋白质降解; 质膜蛋白; 边界控制; 阵地; 高等植物
• ISSN: 1672-9072; 1744-7909
• DOI: 10.1111/jipb.12059

Being sessile organisms, plants evolved an unparalleled plasticity in their post-embryonic development, allowing them to adapt and fine-tune their vital parameters to an ever-changing environment. Cross-talk between plants and their environment requires tight regulation of information exchange at the plasma membrane （PM）. Plasma membrane proteins mediate such communication, by sensing variations in nutrient availability, external cues as well as by controlled solute transport across the membrane border. Localiza-tion and steady-state levels are essential for PM protein function and ongoing research identified cis- and trans-acting determinants, involved in control of plant PM protein localization and turnover. In this overview, we summarize recent progress in our understanding of plant PM protein sorting and degradation via ubiquitylation, a post-translational and reversible modification of proteins. We highlight characterized components of the machinery involved in sorting of ubiquitylated PM proteins and discuss consequences of protein ubiquitylation on fate of selected PM proteins. Specifically, we focus on the role of ubiquitylation and PM protein degradation in the regulation of polar auxin transport （PAT）. We combine this regulatory circuit with further aspects of PM protein sorting control, to address the interplay of events that might control PAT and polarized growth in higher plants.